Discussion: View Thread

  • 1.  Highway softwares

    Posted 09-01-2023 11:10 AM

    Good evening from my end. I'm a civil engineering student. I major in highway engineering and minor in structural. Please, what are the best softwares for highway designs. I think I'm better at structural design than highway, but I want to master the highway design art before leaving school.  



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    Richard Peter S.M.ASCE
    Student
    Uyo AK
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  • 2.  RE: Highway softwares

    Posted 09-04-2023 12:33 PM

    You won't master the art before leaving school.

    Nor any software program.

    Nobody cares, except you, and nobody expects you to.

    Engineering, like medicine, is applied science.

    Mastering either discipline requires extensive experience.

    You're in Nigeria?  The most important subject to be proficient in is the language of the country you want to live and work in.

    No matter how good an engineer you might be, that excellence is only as good as your ability to communicate your work.  In the US, UK, Australia, etc., that would be English.

    Civil engineers, given that public policy governs regulations and standards, and often funding, also apply the social sciences.  Social-Humanistic electives are important.  Understand how others think.  STEAM, not STEM.  Art is about creating something that hasn't been done before, and historic art reveals how other people over history have thought.  One will encounter those different perspectives during one's career, and have to perform successfully with them.

    A bachelor's degree in engineering is about training one's mind in the problem solving process.

    One will not likely in their career ever see a problem like one they had in academia.

    Success in finding and keeping employment depends on

    ·         One's ability to solve a problem they've never seen before,

    ·         Work well with others, as a team member,

    ·         Attitude,

    ·         Work Ethic,

    ·         Integrity,

    ·         Honesty, (use your real name)

    ·         Reliability,

    ·         Passion for the work,

    ·         Ability to write and communicate.

    A straight A student has mastered the art of feeding back information received.

    A solid B student who has mastered the fundamentals of the sciences to be applied, and has made mistakes, as one learns from mistakes, is desired.  Learn from those mistakes at University, before being employed.  Those are the qualities that employers want, need, and are seeking.



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    Karl Sieg P.E., M.ASCE
    Sieg & Associates Inc
    Venice FL
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  • 3.  RE: Highway softwares

    Posted 09-05-2023 10:18 AM

    Bravo! I've been a Road Design Engineer/Project Manager for over 40 years resisting moving to management.  You never master the art of engineering. It's ever evolving always something new to learn, changes in technology. Always be open to learning new ways to engineer your projects and willing to learn from others.  So many engineers get so cocky and unwilling to learn for others they think lessor of. Like technicians, field engineers, and inspectors.  Listening to them. That's how you learn.



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    Michael Breach P.E., M.ASCE
    USI Consultants, Inc.
    Indianapolis IN
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  • 4.  RE: Highway softwares

    Posted 09-13-2023 08:58 AM

    I get you sir. Knowledge can come from anywhere and I'm willing to learn as much as possible for you great minds.  



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    Richard Peter S.M.ASCE
    Student
    Uyo AK
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  • 5.  RE: Highway softwares

    Posted 09-05-2023 10:18 AM

    I would just like to add that there are also A students who have mastered the fundamentals, made mistakes, and learn from mistakes. There are also B students who just regurgitate information. I think we sometimes act as if it is an either-or situation when it isn't.



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    Heidi C. Wallace, P.E., M.ASCE
    Tulsa, OK
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  • 6.  RE: Highway softwares

    Posted 09-13-2023 08:59 AM

    This is more like an African problem, which I've acknowledged, and seek to solve, but baby steps. Thank you very much😊



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    Richard Peter S.M.ASCE
    Student
    Uyo AK
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  • 7.  RE: Highway softwares

    Posted 09-13-2023 08:58 AM

    Thank you very much for this. I'm a bit new here and with this kind of interaction, I have no doubt I'm in blessed space. 



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    Richard Peter S.M.ASCE
    Student
    Uyo AK
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